How To Make Star Bread, or Christmas Star Bread or Snowflake Bread

It was time for another challenge in the Great British Bakeoff Bakealong hosted by Laura at Little House Big Alaska. The theme was festival breads, the challenge was to make 6 to 12 rolls. So I made a bread. I was never one to follow the rules. I have long been intrigued by Christmas star bread or snowflake bread – it goes by many a name. It can be sweet or savory. The final product is a beauty so I set about finding out how to make a star bread and I bring it here to you. The recipe is from Taste of Home with a few tweaks. It makes a gorgeous dough that is a dream to work with so don’t be afraid to leave it on the slightly wet side while kneading; it comes together beautifully in the end.

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How to Make Star Bread, Christmas Star Bread, Snowflake Bread

Serves 10 – 12

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
3/4 cup warm whole milk (110° to 115°)
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup strawberry jam
1/4 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Swedish Pearl Sugar if desired for decoration
1 egg mixed with a splash of water for egg wash
Confectioner’s sugar

Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy. In another bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar and salt; add yeast mixture and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Secure the dough hook and knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

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Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll 1 portion into a 12-in. circle. Place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan or pizza stone. Spread with half of the strawberry jam to within 1/2 in. from edge. Repeat twice, layering dough, apricot jam, dough strawberry jam, and ending with final portion of dough.

Place a 2-1/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips, one in each hand and rotate twice outward. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
Brush with egg wash and sprinkle center with Swedish pearl sugar if using.
Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. (Watch during final 5 minutes for any dripping.) Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where jam is visible.

Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired

How Was the Star Bread Recipe?

Super yummy. I made this while the hubby was away. He didn’t get to eat any of it – I ate it all myself. The bread was light and reminded me almost of a danish but it had no layers. The two jams went very well together and were complementary.

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They provided just enough sweet to go with the bready part. It was delicious warmed up or at room temperature. I can envision making this with a cheese danish like filling or cinnamon sugar. There are even savory recipes out there. No matter how you make your star bread recipe it does make for a very pretty presentation.